Vulnerability · CVE-2017-12635

Apache CouchDB Improper Privilege Management

Published Nov 17, 2023 · corrected/updated Nov 17, 2023 · Apache CouchDB · evidence confidence very high

Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit _users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special case '_admin' role, that denotes administrative users. In combination with CVE-2017-12636 (Remote Code Execution), this can be used to give non-admin users access to arbitrary shell commands on the server as the database system user. The JSON parser differences result in behaviour that if two 'roles' keys are available i Initial-access exploit intelligence.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2017-12635 is a unknown public vulnerability record for Apache CouchDB. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether Apache CouchDB is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Apache CouchDB. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: no CVSS/EPSS yet. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: vulncheck_kev. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Nov 17, 2023. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.
Patch and remediation
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

Nov 17, 2023 · VulnCheck KEV
Detected
Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit _users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special case '_admin' role, that denotes administrative users. In combination with CVE-2017-12636 (Remote Code Execution), this ca
Nov 17, 2023 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.

Affected

vendor Apache CouchDBversion unspecified

Sources

VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2017-12635
Due to differences in the Erlang-based JSON parser and JavaScript-based JSON parser, it is possible in Apache CouchDB before 1.7.0 and 2.x before 2.1.1 to submit _users documents with duplicate keys for 'roles' used for access control within the database, including the special ca
vulncheck.com